Mulberry Paper Factory

Samarkand

Uzbekistan

Arranged Chapter 46 Paper Factory

AO3

The first thing he noticed was the smell. It is indescribably foul. Gagging, he tries to cover his mouth with his hands only to realize that his hands are covered in the same odor. His supervisor comes up to him and Leery, who had joined him with a bandana tied up on her face and over her nose. She smirks when she sees his look and hands him one too. He is quick to follow her example and ties it securely around his own face.

“You must be Kerry McKenzie and Frank Randall?”

“Yes.” Frank says through tight lips. To be reduced to this. It is intolerable.

“Aye.” Leery lowers her eyes and tries to flirt. Both men roll their eyes at her.

“Lovely. I don’t know what you did to be assigned here just know that if you screw up here the only other unskilled job we have for troublemakers is rubbish duty. If you think this stinks…”

“I am not unskilled. I was a university professor.” The man laughs.

“Oo la la. As we have no need for that in this part of the country, you are unskilled. You will be classified as such until you prove you can do something besides teach Professor. What is with your clothes?”

He looks him up and down, from his kakis to his button down dress shirt. “This are the must casual clothes I have.”

“We aren’t going for casual here Professor. We are going for something you won’t mind burning after wearing it here a month or so. This smell will penetrate everything. Most folks slip out of them before they get more then a step in their flats. Store them outside until the next day. No, a wash doesn’t remove it. Only burning. You will wash your body and hair multiple times each night to be able to sleep with yourself. Welcome to the paper factory.” He gives him an evil smile. “I am Steven Bonnet, bye the way.” He shakes his head at him. “Come, you two, let’s get you started.

It is backbreaking, dangerous work. Pulling the newly made rolls of paper off the pipes and place it on the machines that cut it down. Frank has sweated through his dress shirt within an hour. He longs to remove the bandana but, even with it on he can barely breath due to the smell.

He follows Leery into the break room and collapses at the table. “I can’t believe they don’t have air conditioning on the bloody floor.” He says to her.

“You must be the new hire that Mr. Bonnet calls the Professor.” One of the man at the table says. “No one else would be that stupid.”

His eyes narrow as he looks up. “You are calling me stupid?”

“Aye Professor, I am. Only an ignorant fool would think they would waste money cooling this place for us. We work for the breeders. You are a worker ant now buddy. Get used to it.” He laughs as he stands and heads into the loo. Leery gives Frank a look.

“I know you are new but you need to think before you speak. You will be the Professor from now on. Nicknames stick here.”

“How do you handle it?” She shrugs.

“I have been here nine years. Moved at sixteen when my mam was declared insane. She killed my dad and baby sister.” Another shrug. “you get used to it. It isn’t a bad life, or won’t be when I win my man back. No whiny brats. All the sex you want.” She runs her hand over his thigh.

“We are at work.” He removes it.

“So, Jamie and I made out all the time, before her.” A slight exaggeration on her part. He had kissed her forehead once after she bumped it. The only kiss he ever gave her. “By the way, what are we doing about getting me justice?”

He sighs, wondering if the sex was worth the hassle. But he wants to check on Claire and, if she is to be with anyone here, it should be him. They are from the same class, after all. “I am going by McKenzie’s and find out what I can.”

“He also hangs out at Gellis’ a pub right off High Street.”